About the Bucs — Belvidere has been outscored by opponents 191-127 five weeks into the year. The Bucs leading rusher is Maurice Jackson who accounted for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Belvidere’s strength is in the passing game, as QB Troy Vandenbroek is the NIC-10’s third-leading passer with 734 yards for six touchdowns and seven interceptions. Vandenbroek’s favorite targets are Kane Steger (19 receptions, 389 yards and a TD) and Jackson (16/177/2)

About the Pretzels — Freeport has been outscored by opponents 124-123 five games into the season. Steve McShane is the NIC-10’s third-leading rusher with 96 carries for 698 yards and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Quaveon Meeks is 17 of 43 for 261 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Fast facts — A win for Freeport brings to Pretzels one game away from becoming playoff eligible. A loss makes things a bit for difficult for Freeport with back-to-back road games against Auburn and Hononegah left on the schedule before taking on Harlem at home for the regular season finale.

NUIC-Upstate

River Ridge (1-4) at Warren (2-3)

When — 7 p.m.

On the air — 100.3 FM

Last year — River Ridge 35, Warren 26

Last week — A-FC 34, River Ridge 29; Aquin 49, Warren 13

About the Wildcats — River Ridge has been outscored by opponents 166-95 this season. Matt Carroll is River Ridge’s leading rusher with 35 carries for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

About the Warriors — Warren has been outscored by opponents 160-130 this season. Caleb Cherry, Gavin Leverton and Devin Pax are among the Warriors top three rushers on the team.

Fast facts — Both teams were once a co-op and now legit rivals during the football season. Warren has lost three straight and a loss would mean the Warriors would have to win out to become playoff eligible. River Ridge is on the brink of being eliminated from playoff consideration.

About the Broncos — Orangeville has been outscored by opponents 164-96 five games into the season. The Broncos leading rusher is Brandon Zimmerman and quarterback Tanner Kleckler proved versatile, scoring a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown against Milledgeville last Friday.

About the Blackhawks — Stockton has outscored opponents 257-37 this season. TJ Knutson leads the NUIC in rushing with 64 carries for 784 yards and 15 touchdowns. Colton Broshous (43/396/4) and Logan Staver (36/286/2) help lead a potent rushing attack.

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Fast facts — Stockton is one win away from clinching a playoff berth, while is still fighting off elimination from playoff consideration. Orangeville has scored the second-least points in the NUIC-Upstate, while Stockton is the top points scorer in the NUIC.

Durand (2-3) at Milledgeville (0-5)

When — 7 p.m.

Last year — Durand 48, Milledgeville 12

Last week — Durand 42, Pecatonica 0; Orangeville 46, Milledgeville 12

About the Bulldogs — Durand has been outscored by opponents 147-118 five games into the season. Jake Szymanski ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns last Friday against Pecatonica and leads the Bulldogs in rushing.

About the Missiles — Milledgeville has been outscored by opponents 262-71 five weeks into the year.

Fast facts — Milledgeville has given up an average of 52.4 points a game this season. Durand has scored an average of 31.3 points a game the last two games since starting the season 0-3.

Aquin (5-0) at A-FC (3-2)

When — 7:30 p.m.

On the air — 1570 AM and on internet at “www.BigRadio.fm”

Last year — Aquin 50, A-FC 12

Last week — Aquin 49, Warren 13; A-FC 34, River Ridge 29

About the Bulldogs — Aquin has outscored opponents 182-64 five games into the season. Nolan Brannick leads the area in passing, going 82 of 138 (59 percent) for 1452 yards with 17 touchdowns and an interception. Brannick also has five rushing touchdowns to his name. Sawyer Shaw is the NUIC’s fourth-leading rusher with 77 carries for 529 yards and three touchdowns. Brannick’s favorite targets are Zach Moyer (31 receptions, 540 yards and eight touchdowns), Blake Little (20/411/3) and Anthony Townsend (19/391/5).

About the Raiders — A-FC has been outscored by opponents 157-114 five weeks into the year. Jake Kaecker has taken over as the NUIC’s second-leading scorer with 90 carries for 653 yards and three touchdowns. QB Andrew LeFevre has 84 carries for 486 yards and five touchdowns.

Fast facts — Brannick hasn’t thrown an interception since the second quarter of Week 1 against River Ridge. Aquin is second in the Upstate in points allowed five weeks into the season.

NUIC-Northwest

West Carroll (2-3) at Dakota (2-3)

When — 7:30 p.m.

Last year — Dakota 58, West Carroll 23

Last week — West Carroll 25, South Beloit 12; Galena 19, Dakota 8

About the Thunder — West Carroll has been outscored by opponents 150-101 five weeks into the year.

About the Indians — Dakota has been outscored by opponents 127-84 five games into the season. Matt Ryan gained 98 yards and scored a touchdown last week in the Indians loss to Galena last Friday.

Fast facts — A loss for either team would bring them close to playoff elimination. Dakota hasn’t missed the postseason since 1997, when the Indians finished 5-4, proving 5-4 may not be enough to earn a postseason berth.

About the Cardinals — Forreston has outscored opponents 187-30 five weeks into the year. Bryan Kraft is the NUIC’s seventh-leading rusher with 41 carries for 458 yards and nine touchdowns. Tylor Henneman (41/338/3) and Ross Williams (33/339/2) both add to a potent rushing attack.

About the Panthers — Lena-Winslow has outscored opponents 248-48 five games into the season. Tevin Sellers, Austin Mancosky, Tyler Oakley and Zach Diaz led the way for the Panthers on the ground

Fast facts — Forreston has given up the least amount of points of any team in the NUIC while Le-Win is second in the conference, despite scoring just 14 points against E/PC in the team’s first loss. Le-Win will look to bounce back and become playoff eligible, while Forreston will look to survive its first test and clinch a playoff berth with a win.

South Beloit (1-4) at Galena (2-3)

When — 7 p.m.

Last year — Galena 17, South Beloit 14 (OT)

Last week — West Carroll 25, South Beloit 12; Galena 19, Dakota 8

About the Sobos — South Beloit has been outscored by opponents 158-98 five games into the season.

About the Pirates — Galena has been outscored by opponents 107-79 five weeks into the year. Austin Long and Roberto Salgado lead the Pirates rushing attack.

Fast facts — South Beloit will make the long trip to Galena in hopes of staving off elimination from playoff consideration. A win for Galena would bring the team to a .500 record as the team is eyeing six wins to clinch a playoff berth.

Pecatonica (0-5) at Polo (1-4)

When — 7:30 p.m.

Last year — Pecatonica 31, Polo 8

Last week — Durand 42, Pecatonica 0; Forreston 55, Polo 0

About the Indians — Pecatonica has been outscored by opponents 249-16 five games into the season. Brice Rose leads Pec with 120 yards and two touchdowns.

About the Marcos — Polo has been outscored by opponents 170-108 five weeks into the year. Brian Cavanaugh has 33 carries for 251 yards and three touchdowns as the team’s leading rusher.

Fast facts — Pecatonica has scored the least amount of points of any NUIC team with 16, all points coming from Rose’s two TDs and a two-point conversion. Polo is looking to stay in the playoff race, as one more loss ends their chances at a postseason bid.

About the Warriors — East Dubuque has outscored opponents 163-79 five weeks into the year. Alec Monahan is the NUIC’s third-leading rusher with 79 carries for 589 yards and nine touchdowns. Cole Crenshaw is the team’s second-leading rusher and the NUIC’s fifth leading rusher (79/492/8)

About the Wildcatz — E/PC has outscored opponents 168-40 five games into the season. Ben Thomas is the NUIC’s eighth leading rusher (47/436/3) and Eric Schaney (47/336/5) and Shawn Larak (27/258/4) bring out a potent rushing attack.

Fast facts — E/PC and East Dubuque came to an epic finish season ago in East Dubuque. The Wildcatz hav allowed the third-least points scored in the NUIC, including just 14 points against Lena-Winslow (then the highest-scoring team in the conference). The Warriors have given up 33.5 points a game in the last two weeks of the season.